‘Manhattan’ to Premiere on WGN America in July
 
Santa Fe — Today, Governor Susana Martinez announced that “Manhattan,” an original one-hour drama series, will begin production in New Mexico later this month. The series is set against the backdrop of the greatest clandestine race against time in the history of science — the mission to build the world's first atomic bomb in Los Alamos — and follows the brilliant but flawed scientists and their families as they attempt to co-exist in a world where secrets and lies infiltrate every aspect of their lives. “Manhattan” will premiere on WGN America in July. 
 
“I’m excited that this series will highlight New Mexico’s celebrated history and our amazing, picturesque landscapes — I can’t wait to watch it,” said Governor Martinez. “Furthermore, the fact that they have chosen to film right here in New Mexico demonstrates that we remain competitive in recruiting films and TV series to our state.”
 
The New Mexico Jobs Package — which Governor Martinez signed into law last year — increased incentives for television series by 5 percent. This brings the incentive to 30 percent for long-running series that hire professional crews and employ New Mexicans for longer periods of time.
 
“Manhattan” will be produced by Tribune Studios, Skydance Television and Lionsgate Television. The production will employ about 200 New Mexico crew members, as well as more than 3,000 resident actors and background talent over the course of the series.
 
"We are extremely pleased to welcome the producers of ‘Manhattan’ to New Mexico,” said Nick Maniatis, director of New Mexico State Film Office. “With them, they bring a story that touches on our state and nation’s history, and we look forward to providing them with top notch crew, facilities, and vendors to aid in the telling of their story." 
 
The lot where “Manhattan” will do much of its filming is on state land, acquired from the City of Santa Fe, and designated strictly for economic development projects.
 
About “Manhattan”
 
“Manhattan” has an order of 13 episodes and is written and created by Sam Shaw (“Masters of Sex“) who serves as executive producer, alongside executive producers David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Marcy Ross and Dustin Thomason.  Emmy Award-winning director Thomas Schlamme (“The West Wing,” “Sports Night”) directs and also serves as executive producer. 
 
“Manhattan” stars John Benjamin Hickey (“The Big C,” “The Good Wife”) as Frank Winter, the brilliant but self-destructive professor who is commissioned to help lead the Manhattan Project; Olivia Williams (“Dollhouse”) as Liza Winter, a brilliant botanist who accompanies her husband Frank to Los Alamos; Daniel Stern (“Home Alone,” “Home Alone 2”) as Glen Babbit, a mentor to the younger scientists who helps navigate the political minefield of Los Alamos; Ashley Zukerman (“Rush”) as Charlie Abrams, a brilliant wunderkind who uproots his wife and young twins to move from the East Coast to work on the Manhattan Project; Rachel Brosnahan (“House of Cards”) as Abby Abrams, a privileged girl from the Boston suburbs who agrees to follow her husband Charlie to the middle of nowhere; Christopher Denham (“Argo,” “Shutter Island”) as Jim Meeks, one of the bright project members working under Frank Winter; Katja Herbers (“De Storm”) as Helen Price, one of the few female scientists assigned to the project; Harry Lloyd (“Game of Thrones”) as Paul Crosley, an ambitious Oxford-educated member of Frank’s team; and Alexia Fast (“Jack Reacher”) as Frank and Liza’s 16-year-old daughter Callie Winter. 
 
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SANTA FE —20th Century Fox Television is producing the pilot HIEROGLYPH in Albuquerque, starring Reece Ritchie as “Shai” (Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time), Kelsey Chow as “Lotus” (The Amazing Spider-Man) and Condola Rashad as “Nefertari” (Steel Magnolias, 2012).  
 
"We are extremely pleased to welcome 20th Century Fox Television and HIEROGLYPH to New Mexico, and we look forward to supporting the productions efforts with our excellent crew, facilities and vendors," said Maniatis.
 
Principal photography will begin mid-March for two weeks and the production is expected to continue for 13 episodes through July. The production will be employing approximately 150 New Mexico crew members as well as 150 resident actors and background talent.

“We are thrilled that Fox has chosen to bring the production of HIEROGLYPH to Albuquerque. These projects generally involve both direct and indirect benefits to our local economy and we welcome their team and look forward to working with them,” said Mayor Richard Berry.  

HIEROGLYPH is being produced by Peter Chernin, Katherine Pope, Miguel Sapochnik and Travis Beacham.  Also written by Travis Beacham (Pacific Rim) and directed by Miguel Sapochnik (Repo Man).
Set in ancient Egypt, where fantasy and reality intertwined, HIEROGLYPH follows a notorious thief who is plucked from prison to serve the Pharaoh, navigating palace intrigue, seductive concubines, criminal underbellies and even a few divine sorcerers.

Twentieth Century Fox Television	
A 21st Century Fox company, Twentieth Century Fox Television is the flagship studio which leads the industry in supplying award-winning and blockbuster primetime television programming and entertainment content. Led by Chairmen and CEOs Dana Walden and Gary Newman, the studio comprises the production banners Twentieth Century Fox Television, Fox 21, Fox Television Studios, as well as the syndication division Twentieth Television and the worldwide licensing and merchandising division Fox Consumer Products. Founded in 1949, Twentieth Century Fox Television has delivered a wide array of classic television series to audiences worldwide, from M*A*S*H* to Modern Family. Its animated powerhouse The Simpsons, now in its 26th year of production is the longest running primetime scripted series in the history of television. 
 
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Visit the New Mexico Film Office online at nmfilm.com 

SANTA FE — New Mexico Film Office Director Nick Maniatis announced today that Voltage Pictures and Sobini Films are producing the feature GOOD KILL, starring Ethan Hawke (Gattaca, Lord of War, Training Day), January Jones (Mad Men, Sweetwater, X-Men: First Class), Zoe Kravitz (Divergent, After Earth) and Jake Abel (The Host) in Albuquerque.  Principal photography will begin at the end of February and the project will shoot through March. 

The production will be comprised of ninety-five percent (95%) residents, employing approximately 140 New Mexico crew members, 15 New Mexico actors and 200 local background talent.
 
GOOD KILL is being produced by Nicolas Chartier (Dallas Buyers Club, The Company You Keep, Seal Team Six: The Raid on Osama Bin Laden), Zev Foreman (Dallas Buyers Club, Seal Team Six: The Raid on Osama Bin Laden) and Marc Amin (Filth, Frida).  Ted Gidlow, Patrick Newall and Cami Winikoff will executive produce. Written and directed by Andrew Niccol (The Host, The Terminal, The Truman Show), GOOD KILL is the story of a Las Vegas military pilot who begins to question his mission after he is assigned to pilot a remote controlled drone to fight the Taliban 12 hours a day.

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Visit the New Mexico Film Office online at nmfilm.com

SANTA FE — New Mexico Film Office Director Nick Maniatis announced today that the third season of the hit A&E drama series Longmire, produced by The Shepard/Robin Company in association with Warner Horizon Television, will be produced in the state.

Production will begin in spring 2014 in and around Santa Fe and at Garson Studios at Santa Fe University of Art and Design. 

“Garson Studios at Santa Fe University of Art and Design is thrilled to be the home of the Longmire production for the third season,” said Larry Hinz, President of Santa Fe University of Art and Design. “In addition to creating much-needed jobs for the community and state of New Mexico, Longmire is also a key partner of the university by providing internships and professional experiences for our students.” 

The production will employ more than 100 New Mexico crew members and hundreds of actors and background talent throughout the season.

“The Longmire production team, cast and crew exemplify a positive and respectful working relationship with the State and our local communities,” said Nick Maniatis.  “We welcome them back for season three and wish them continued success.”

Executive producers of Longmire are Greer Shephard, Michael Robin, Hunt Baldwin and John Coveny, along with producers Chris Donahue and Patrick McKee. “The cinematic landscapes and wide open spaces of New Mexico have become characters in the stories our writers create.  We are truly excited to be returning for season three. The production community and the support of so many people throughout New Mexico make it possible to tell amazing stories,” said Donahue.

Based on the bestselling mystery novels by author Craig Johnson, this contemporary crime thriller set in Big Sky country stars Australian actor Robert Taylor (The Matrix) as Walt Longmire, the charismatic, dedicated and unflappable sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming, along with Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica), Lou Diamond Phillips (La Bamba), Bailey Chase (Damages), Cassidy Freeman (Smallville) and Adam Bartley (Vegas).  

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Visit the New Mexico Film Office online at nmfilm.com

SANTA FE—Today the New Mexico State Film Office (NMFO) announced a Town Hall meeting in Silver City on Wednesday, November 13, 2013. This Town Hall follows a series of Town Hall meetings that took place in Las Cruces, Ruidoso, Roswell, Raton, Clovis, and Carlsbad. Film Office Director Nick Maniatis will discuss the state of the film industry including future productions and opportunities available to New Mexico residents. The meetings are intended to provide an open forum for each community to share information about local activity such as educational programs and film related business as well as relaying any issues of concern. 

Prior to each Town Hall meeting, participants will have an opportunity to have their headshot (photograph) taken by a representative of the film office which will be given to Extras Casting Directors in New Mexico. This opportunity is for informational purposes only and is not in response to a particular production. 

The Silver City Town Hall will be held at the historic Silco Theater and will celebrate the first lighting of the recently installed marquee.  The Silco Theater was built in 1923 and served Silver City for many years as a performance and movie theater. In January 2006, the Silver City MainStreet Project re-opened the theater and funds are now being raised to renovate the space into a movie theater again.

Following the Town Hall there will be a special screening of The Making of a Marquee (TRT – 15 minutes).   This short documentary provides a brief history of the efforts leading to the installation of the Silver City MainStreet Project's new Silco Theater marquee. 

The Town Halls are free and open to all, including students, local filmmakers, businesses and the general public. The New Mexico State Film Office collaborates with local film liaisons, schools and chambers of commerce in conducting these events. 

The schedule is as follows:
 
When: 		
Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Time: 		
6:00 PM
 
Location: 	
Silco Theater 
311 N Bullard St.  Silver City, NM 88061

Phone:		
(575) 534-9005 

Agenda: 
6:00 pm - Headshots for casting directors 
7:00 pm - Welcome and Introductions by George Dworin, Silver City Arts & Cultural District and Tourism Director
7:15 pm - State of the NM Film Industry by Director Nick Maniatis
7:30 pm - Recent Films in Grant County – Arlene Schadel
7:35 pm - Film Locations by Don Gray, NMFO contracted Locations Manager
7:40 pm - Q & A
8:00 pm - Special Screening of The Making of a Marquee
 
There is no RSVP necessary to attend any of the Town Hall meetings and surrounding communities are encouraged to participate in the discussion. The expected timeframe for the town hall is approximately two (2) hours with Q&A. 

For more information on the 2013 Film Industry Town Hall meetings contact Dirk Norris at 505-476-5671 or 
dirk@nmfilm.com.

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SANTA FE — New Mexico Film Office Director Nick Maniatis announced today that Horsethief Pictures is producing the feature Dirty Weekend, starring Matthew Broderick (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off), Alice Eve (Star Trek Into Darkness), Gia Crovatin (Full Circle) and Phil Burke (This is 40) is currently in production in Albuquerque.  

The production employed 60 New Mexico crew members, 11 New Mexico actors and 140 background talent.  

Produced by Duncan Montgomery (Bernie); Tiller Russell (The Last Rites of Ransom Pride), Joey Stewart (The Final) and co-produced by Tim Harms and Joel Plotch.  Written and directed by Neil LaBute (In the Company of Men, Nurse Betty, Lakeview Terrace), DIRTY WEEKEND, is the story of Les (Broderick), who finds himself delayed in a city where a year earlier a few too many drinks led to an unexpected encounter, the half-remembered events of which have haunted him since.  Accompanied by his coworker Nat (Eve), who has a few secrets of her own, he sets out to figure out what really happened that night.  As he gets closer to finding what he's looking for, he realizes that learning the truth about one's self can have unintended consequences.

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Visit the New Mexico Film Office online at nmfilm.com

SANTA FE— New Mexico State Film Office Director Nick Maniatis announced today the winners of the 2013 New Mexico Filmmakers Showcase which took place October 25 – 27, 2013 at the Guild Cinema in Albuquerque.  The following winners were announced in nine (9) categories: 

Best Webisode: Canyon Road pilot “The Fire,” directed by Christopher Wright
TRT 30 minutes.  Canyon Road will be a series containing the episodes that highlight the varied cultural and eclectic characters who inhabit Canyon Road.

Best Music Video: Red Dog written and directed by Tyler Green and Dustin Deen
TRT 3 minutes.  A wheelchair bound man awakens in an alley with a thirst for Red Dog beer.

Best Experimental: Weird written and directed by Miguel Arambula
TRT 17 minutes. An exploration of the haunting aspects of life.  While finding your fate.

Best Documentary: The Chile Film directed by Kelly Urig
TRT 26 minutes. In New Mexico, nothing is as precious as our red and green chile.

Best Drama: Matanza written by Morse Bicknell
TRT 22 minutes.  A weekend camping trip starts out happily enough for a group of college kids, but a dark shadow is cast across the idyllic setting when two outsiders are invited at the last minute.

Best Comedy: Zombiewood directed by Lauren Petzke
TRT 14 minutes. A zombie named Harry thinks the answer to his “undead” life is to get a SAG card! While the world has little use for zombies, there is one industry where they fit in very well – Hollywood.

Best Animation: Snowdysseus written and directed by Evan Curtis
TRT 6 minutes.  Snowdysseus explores the vulnerability in feeling nostalgia for one’s home.

Best Sci-Fi: A Figment of My Imagination written and directed by Eric Smigiel
TRT 18 minutes.  This human story chronicles the conflict between an Android and its creator.

Best Wild Card: Quirky View directed and written by Anne Stirling 
TRT 22 minutes. Quirky View is a new TV series that reveals the true passions of regular folks with fascinating hobbies, unusual callings and those that have taken the road less traveled. It celebrates anything but the typical.

“We commend the local filmmakers who worked hard on these projects and look forward to traveling the winning films across the state,” said Nick Maniatis, Director of the New Mexico State Film Office. “This is one way we can do our part to bring local, independent films to a wider audience. We encourage everyone to attend.”

The screenings are free to the public and will take place in the following cities:

GRANTS: October 29, 2013 5pm
Contact - Rick Best
Northwest New Mexico Visitor Center
1900 E. Santa Fe Ave.
Grants, NM 87020
Phone: 505-876-2783

PORTALES: October 30, 2013 7pm
Contact - Jon Barr
ENMU Portales 
Buchanan Hall, Music Building
1500 S. Ave. N
Portales, NM 88130
Phone: 800-367-3668

ROSWELL: November 2, 2013 1pm
Contact - Renee Roach
Convention Center
912 N Main Street
Roswell, NM 88201
Phone: 575-637-6224

SANTA FE: November 8 – 10, 2013 11am
Contact - Jason Silverman
Santa Fe Center of Contemporary Arts
1050 Old Pecos Trail
Santa Fe, NM 87501
Phone: 505-982-1338 

LAS CRUCES: November 15, 2013 5pm
Contact - Matt Byrnes
DACC Auditorium
East Mesa Campus
2800 N. Sonoma Ranch Blvd
Las Cruces, NM 88011
Phone: 575-527-7500

TAOS: December 20, 2013 7pm
Contact - Damon Klassen
Taos Center for the Arts
133 Paseo Del Pueblo Norte
Taos, NM 87571
Phone: 575-758-2052

No RSVP necessary to attend the screenings. The total running time for the winning films is 2 hours 48 minutes.  For more information visit www.nmfilm.com or call 505-476-5600.

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SANTA FE— The New Mexico Film Office announced the schedule for the 2013 NM Filmmakers Showcase featuring 39 independently-produced works from all over the State of New Mexico including Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces and Taos.  The Showcase will take place at The Guild Cinema (3405 Central Avenue NE, Albuquerque, NM  87106) and is free and open to the public to attend. For a complete schedule visit http://nmfilm.com/uploads/files/2013%20NM%20Filmmaker%20Showcase%20schedule.pdf. 

Friday, October 25, 2013

6:00 pm: 	Meet the Filmmakers Opening Night Networking event
Laru Ni Hati Café
3413 Central Avenue NE, Albuquerque, NM  87106
		
7:00 pm: 	Block A - Showcase begins
The Guild Cinema
3405 Central Avenue NE, Albuquerque, NM  87106

A panel of local film professionals will judge the films in various categories and announce the winners on Sunday, October 27th during the 7:00 pm Awards Ceremony.  The wining films will travel to Grants, Portales, Roswell, Santa Fe, Las Cruces and Taos starting at the end of the month through December.

For more information contact the New Mexico Film Office at 505-476-5604 or rochelle@nmfilm.com.

SANTA FE — New Mexico Film Office Director Nick Maniatis announced today that the independent feature Big Sky, starring Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer, Kill Your Darlings), Bella Thorne (Shake It Up!, Raspberry Magic), Frank Grillo (The Grey, Warrior) and Aaron Tveit (Les Miserables, Graceland) to film in New Mexico.  Production will take place in October in Albuquerque and the surrounding areas.  
 
The production will employ 40 New Mexico crew members, 10 New Mexico actors and background talent.
 
Producer is Randy Manis (The Calling, Kill Your Darlings), Matt Salloway (The Butler, So Undercover), Christina Papagjika (The Butler) and co-produced by Ricky Tollman (The Calling).  Executive Producers are Michael Benaroya for Benaroya Pictures (Lawless, Margin Call, The Words) and Christine Vachon for Killer Films (Boys Don’t Cry, Far From Heaven, HBO's Mildred Pierce, One Hour Photo) along with Jeffrey V. Mandel for TBD Syndicate (Murderball). Santiago Sanchez (Somos lo Que Hay, 72) is the Director of Photography.

Directed by Jorge Michel Grau (We Are What We Are) Big Sky is the tale of Hazel (Thorne), a teenage girl who suffers a mortal fear of open spaces resulting in her never leaving the bedroom of the home she shares with her mom, Dee (Sedgwick).  The strain on the relationship is taking its toll on both mom and daughter.  In the last ditch attempt to cure her daughter, Dee enrolls Hazel in a high-end treatment facility in the desert, hoping they will finally find the help they require so that Hazel can begin to move forward form the horrors of her past that triggered her illness.  When the unexpected occurs en-route to the facility, Hazel and Dee are forced to fight for their survival in the harshest conditions, and Hazel must tackle her worst fears before her fears consume her.  

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Visit the New Mexico Film Office online at nmfilm.com

SANTA FE — New Mexico Film Office Director Nick Maniatis announced today that the independent feature X-Species will be in production October through the beginning of November in Silver City, Hurley and Faywood, NM.  

Starring Clancy McLain (Pieces, Killer Sharks: The Attacks of Black December), Skyler Hart (Karma, The Vanisher), Lieschen Pogue (Tough Nuts: Australia’s Hardest Criminals, Underbelly), Alan Pietruszewski (Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Zero Dark Thirty) and John Henry Richardson (Castlevania: Hymn of Blood).

The production will employ 15 New Mexico crew members, 10 New Mexico actors and approximately 40 background talent.

Directed by Mark “Neko” Sparks, who will also serve as the producer along with Kevin Friesen, X-Species is the story of an archaeological expedition on the verge of a historic discovery.  After the team uncovers a prehistoric hominid burial site their camp is mysteriously ransacked.  With few defenses against the elements, casualties escalate as they try to find their way out of the woods.  Their fight to survive gives way to fear, for in even these most inhumane of circumstances, the real terror has yet to begin.  

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Visit the New Mexico Film Office online at nmfilm.com